Marine propulsion.



PATENTED JUNE Z0, 1905.`

K. 0. WOLL.

MARINE PROPULSION.'

ArPLIoATIoN FILED DBO. za, 1904.

/2 /N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES Patented June 20, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

IlllAFlINE4 PROPULSION.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 792,687, dated June 20, 1905.

i Application filed December 23, 1904. Serial No. 238,078.

T0 all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, KNUD O. WOLL, acitizen of the United States of America, residing near Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Marine Propulsion, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to devices for propelling vessels, and has for its objects to improve the construction of small paddle-wheels, to'improve the watercourse, and to simplify the general construction of the driving mechanism. I attain these objects by the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a plan of a boat equipped with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan of a part of the bottom of the boat, showing the watercourse box; and Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section through the propeller-box.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout'the several views.

In the drawings I have shown a boat 1, provided with fore-and-aft air-compartments 2,

which prevent it from sinking if swamped.-

My driving mechanism is constructed along the center line of the boat and consists of a propeller 3, journaled in the propeller-box 4 and projecting below the bottom of the boat 1 into the end of the watercourse-box 5, and pedal-operated sprocket-gearing adapted to drive said propeller. The boat 1 is steered by the rudder 6, having a tiller 7 above the aft air-compartment 2 and controlled by the ropes 8, which are secured to the tiller 7 and pass therefrom to each side of the boat and along the inside of the boat to the fore complementary tiller9, journaled in the bottom of the boat and having handles 1() shaped similar to ordinary bicycle-handles and located conveniently in front of the seat 11 and above the pedals in such manner as to assist the bearing down of the foot on the pedals. The fore tiller 9 projects in front of its pivots, and consequently when the handles `10 are turned the rudder 6 turns to the same side as the fore tiller 9, and therefore the boat 1 swerves in the direction indicated by said tiller 9.

The propeller 3 is constructed of a plate 12, being cut out along radial lines to form spokes from the center and having the two circular bands 13 secured to each side at a distance equal to the height of the center of the propeller above the bottom of the boat, so that these bands 13 always practically close the hole in the bottom of the boat, as shown in Fig. 4. Outside of these bands I secure the blades 14, which may be most conveniently formed of angle-irons secured to the central web-plate 12. A reinforcing-hub 15 may be secured to each side of the center of the plate 12. The driving-shaft 16 passes through the hubs 15 and through the journals in the propeller-box 4 and is provided with sprocketwheels 17 at each end. The box 4 fits closely around the propeller 3 and covers the hole 18 in the bottom of the boat 1. The upper portion of the box 4 is formed as a lid which is preferably hinged at the mainy portion.

Referring to Fig. 3, the watercourse-box 5 is set in the space formed by cutting away the deep keel 19 of the boat, leaving, however, an unoccupied space both before and behind the box 5, the keel 19 being sharpened at the points where it is cut away. The box 5 is considerably wider in front than at the rear and is set so that the propeller 3 is right in the rear thereof. The bars 2O extend from 'the`box 5 to the parts of the keel 19.

I mount the seat and pedals in the following manner: At a suitable central point I secure the two bent frame-pieces 21 to the bottom. These pieces are spread wider at the bottom and come together at the top and are bent so that the bottom is farther forward than the top. A saddle 11 is suitably supported by the top of the frame 21. A sprocketwheel 23 is mounted on a pedal-shaft 24 between the pieces 21. The pedals 25 are suitably mounted on cranks on the pedal-shaft 24. A brace 26 extends from the framepieces 21 to the steering-rod in front. A double rear brace 27 extends downward and rearward from under the saddle 11 to the bottom of the boat.

A counter-shaft 28 is mounted in bearings IOO on shortframes 29, between the frames 21 and the box 4, and is provided with aroentral sprocket-wheel 30 and two end wheels 31, the central one being connected to the sprocketwheel 23 and the end wheels ,31 being similarly connected to the sprocket-wheels 17 on the propeller shaft 16. The sizes of the sprocket-wheels 23, 30, 31, and 17 can be chosen to suit the requirements of the conditions under which the boat may be worked.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- In a marine propeller, the Combination with a vessel having a central hole in the bottom thereof, a propeller-box within said vessel and being open at the bottom and covering said hole, a paddle-propeller journaled in said box and passing through said hole and below the vessel, a watercourse-box secured to the bottom of said vessel and open at its ends said watercourse-box extending Jforward of said hole in the vessel and beingwidest at its forward end, and a pedal-actuated set of sprocketwheels and chains whereby said paddle-wheel may be rotated in said propeller-box.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

KNUD O. WOLL. Witnesses: u

M. H. COREY M. A. VAN HOUSE. 

